Tereza de Buenguela

Abstract

This study analyzes the trajectory of Tereza de Benguela, leader of the Quilombo de Quariterê in colonial Brazil, between the mid-18th century (1700-1770). The research seeks to understand the protagonism of women in quilombo resistance, highlighting Tereza's leadership strategies, her role in the fight against the slave system, and the legacy she left for Afro-Brazilian history. Based on a qualitative and historiographical approach, grounded in women's history, historical evidence indicates that Tereza de Benguela led the quilombo for about twenty years, organizing autonomous political, economic, and defense structures. Her leadership challenges the patriarchal norms of the period and reveals the central role of Black women in resistance. The study also discusses the erasure of her memory, later recovered by social movements and historiography. The establishment of July 25th as Tereza de Benguela National Day symbolizes the permanence of her struggle. In conclusion, Tereza's story illuminates the colonial past and inspires contemporary reflections on racial and gender equality and social justice.